Time now running out for a large share of Europe’s installed wind capacity

There is a major challenge confronting European wind energy – and it is a challenge the industry and policy-makers must face before it is too late.

Just 208 MW worth of wind farm projects won capacity in the latest German onshore wind auction results released today. A total of 650 MW was on offer.

Poland’s lower house of Parliament approved an important revision to the Renewables Act last week in a significant development for onshore wind in the country.

Europe installs 4.9 GW of new wind energy capacity in first half of 2019

Europe added 4.9 GW of new wind energy capacity in the first half of 2019, according to figures released by WindEurope.

WindEurope, Cefic (the European Chemical Industry Council) and EUCIA (the European Composites Industry Association) have created a cross-sector platform to advance novel approaches to the recycling of wind turbine blades.

On 11 June WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson spoke at the Polish Wind Energy Association’s annual conference near Warsaw. Dickson was speaking as part of a panel on Polish onshore wind power and its role in the Polish National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP).

From 23 to 26 May millions of Europeans went to the polls to elect their Members of the European Parliament. At 51% this year’s EU election turnout was the highest since 1999. And it was the first time turnout had gone up in the European elections.

Global Wind Day 2019 Photo Competition: “Future Wind”

The photo competition will close on 5 June 2019. Winners will be announced on Global Wind Day – 15 June 2019.

The German offshore wind energy supply chain is under real pressure. A lack of auctions – the last one was in April 2018 and no more are scheduled until 2021 – and a disappointing perspective for future auction volumes to 2030 means their order books are drying up and it’s unclear when and how they will be filled.

European countries’ National Energy & Climate Plans are meant to be their energy transition roadmap to 2030. But the draft versions of the Plans need significant improvements if the EU is to deliver on its 2030 renewable energy target.

The growth of onshore wind energy is collapsing in Germany, jeopardising both German and EU renewables targets. Germany installed just 134 MW of new onshore wind farms in the first quarter of 2019 – the country’s worst first quarter for onshore installations since 2000.

300,000-strong wind energy community mobilises for European Elections

WindEurope today launched a campaign to mobilise the 300,000 people who work in wind energy throughout Europe to go and vote in the upcoming European Elections.

The European Wind Energy Association WindEurope has launched a new Aviation Task Force, gathering a wide range of stakeholders to tackle one of the major challenge areas for wind energy today.

FOWT 2019: France now the only Member State with floating wind in its NECP draft

On 24 April WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson chaired the first plenary session at FOWT 2019, the world’s largest floating offshore wind event.

Europe Invested in Record Amount of Future Wind Energy Capacity in 2018

The European states have invested €27bn in new wind farms in 2018, according to a new report by industry body WindEurope

Europe’s Draft National Energy and Climate Plans Are Insufficient

The plans won’t deliver the EU’s 32% renewables target for 2030

WindEurope Co-Signed the Marine Grid Declaration

Wind energy is at the heart of a future-proof energy system

With a well-established and highly-trained oil & gas industry already in place, Norway is now looking into the potential of offshore wind to provide clean electricity in the future and to develop its offshore wind supply chain.

WindEurope Elects Gunnar Groebler as new Chair

The Board of Directors has elected Senior Vice President, Business Area Wind at Vattenfall, Gunnar Groebler as the association’s new Chair.

WindEurope Hails UK Sector Deal

The new offshore ‘Sector Deal’ sets the groundwork for a huge boost in offshore wind capacity in the UK as the country is set to provide 30% of its electricity in 2030 by offshore wind

‘Brussels Declaration’ Calls for More Offshore Wind Energy

The oceans provides a theoretically limitless resource for renewable energy - that needs to be harvested

Amount of New Wind Capacity in Europe Down a Third in 2018

Nevertheless, wind now provides 14% of Europe’s electricity

German Onshore Wind Auction Under-Subscribed - Again

The latest German onshore wind auction brought another setback as just 476 MW worth of wind farm projects won capacity while a total of 700 MW was on offer.

Belgium Still Has a Long Way to Go

Belgian energy and climate plan proposes renewables target of 18.3% by 2030

European Offshore Wind Capacity Grew by 18% in 2018

Last year, 2.6 gigawatts of new offshore wind energy capacity were installed in Europe, as the European Wind Energy Association WindEurope announced today.

ENTSO-E (the association of European Transmission System Operators) has published a new report providing data and analysis in order to guide clear decision-making in Europe’s energy transition, supporting the further electrification of Europe’s energy mix Major ENTSO-E report

EU countries discusss a proposal from the European Commission on protective measures on steel imports to the EU today. WindEurope warns that this could have drastic consequences

Second Greek Renewables Auction Brings New Lows

The average price level is even lower than in the last French and German onshore auctions.

High level political negotiations are ongoing at COP24 in Katowice, with countries struggling to reach agreement on the key elements of the Paris Agreement like the so-called ‘rulebook’ and the level of ambition to be deployed by EU Member States in the effort to combat climate change.

Almost 100 organisations led by major corporates today signalled their willingness to do more on climate action calling on European governments to make it easier to invest and directly source renewable energy. The group signed this declaration at the RE-Source 2018 event in Amsterdam.